Tool for applying hair dressing substances

ABSTRACT

A tool for applying a substance to the hair of a person generally consisting of an elongated, thin and narrow member including an intermediate section which may be gripped and manipulated by a user; and at least one end section providing at least two, longitudinally projecting tine portions spaced sufficiently apart to permit the passage of a strand of hair as such tines laden with a substance to be applied are passed through the hair of a person with end portions thereof disposed in proximity to the scalp of such person.

This invention relates to a tool for applying dressing substances to hair, and more particularly to a tool for applying a fluid substance such as a dye, bleach, cream, lotion, conditioner or similar substance to the hair of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, there are a great many number of various tools for applying a liquid for dying, highlighting, bleaching or otherwise conditioning the hair of a user. Such applicators, however, have been comparatively complicated in design, often awkward or difficult to use, sometimes ineffective in results and relatively expensive to purchase. Such applicators have included all sorts of tools including comb-type devices, brushes, toothed devices and a variety of other devices. Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel tool for applying various liquid or viscous substances such as dyes, highlighting agents, bleaches, creams, lotions, conditioners and the like to the hair of a person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner of use of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is achieved by providing a tool for applying a liquid or viscous substance to the hair of a person, generally consisting of an elongated, thin and narrow member including an intermediate section which may be gripped and manipulated by a user, and at least one end section providing at least two, longitudinally projecting tine portions spaced sufficiently apart to permit the passage of a strand of hair as such times laden with a liquid or viscous substance to be applied are passed through the hair of a person with end portions thereof disposed in proximity to the scalp of such person. Preferably, such tool is provided with three tine portions at one end thereof and two tine portions at an opposite end thereof, and a pair of pads disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate section which may be gripped with the thumb and forefinger of a hand the user for dipping the tine portions of the tool into the liquid or viscous substance to be applied, and manipulating the tool to apply such substance to portions of the hair to be treated. The tool may be formed of any suitable material such as a plastic material and may be formed by any conventional method including injection molding, compression molding and the like. It further is preferred that the surface of the tool be formed smoothly to facilitate the coherence of the substance to be applied to the tines of the tool, and the passage of the tines through strands of hair as the substance is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated a tool 10 for applying a liquid or viscous substance such as a dye, highlighting agent, bleach, cream, lotion, conditioner or the like to the hair of a person which generally consists of an elongated intermediate section 11 and a pair of integral end sections 12 and 13. Intermediate section 11 is thin in depth and narrow in width. End section 12 includes a planar portion 14 and a set of three tine portions 15. The tine portions extend longitudinally and are spaced sufficiently far apart to permit strands of hair to pass therebetween. The end portions thereof are provided with bulbous configurations as at 16. End section 13 similarly is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending tines 17 having bulbous configurations on the ends thereof. The spacing between tines 19 is similar to the spacing between tines 15 at the opposite end of the tool to permit strands of hair to be received between such tine portions. Preferably, the tool is formed as an integral body having a smooth surface with the surfaces of the intermediate sections flowing gradually into the end sections and tine portions. The tool may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic and may be formed by any conventional method including injection molding and compression molding.

In the use of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate section of the tool may be grasped with a hand of the user, the tine portions at either end of the tool may be dipped into a liquid or viscous substance to be applied to the hair of a person, and such tool then may be manipulated by the user to pass the tines laden with substance, through a portion of the hair to which the substance is to be applied, as shown in FIG. 2. In doing so, the bulbous end segments of the tine portions are guided along the scalp of the person, whose hair is being treated to permit the tines to receive strands of hair therebetween, causing the substance disposed thereon to be applied to the strands passing through and by the tine portions of the tool. The configuration of the end sections of the tool, the smooth surface of the tool, and the nature of the material of which the tool is formed all contribute to causing substances being applied to cling to the tine portions of the tool when such tine portions are dipped into a pool of such substance, and further permit the release of such substances to strands of hair being treated as such tine portions are passed through a lock of hair. Either end of the tool may be used to apply the required substance to the hair. The end with the greater number of tine portions obviously would be used when the substance being applied is to be applied to a wider area of hair. Correspondingly, the opposite end of the tool would be used when a more narrow area of the hair is to be treated.

Tool 30 shown in FIG. 2 similarly includes an intermediate section 31 and a pair of integral end sections 32 and 33. Intermediate section 31 is substantially cylindrical with a spiral surface portion 34 disposed along the length thereof to facilitate handling of the tool. The intermediate portion 31 further is provided with a pad portion 35 having a surface 36 configured to the contour of a thumb and a surface on the opposite side thereof configured to the contour of a fore-finger which facilitate the gripping of the tool by a user. End section 32 is provided with a planar section 37 and a set of spaced tine portion 38. Such tine portions are spaced apart sufficiently to permit strands of hair to be passed therethrough when the tool is used to apply a substance to the hair of a person, as shown in FIG. 1. The end segments of tine portions 38 are provided with bulbous configurations, as at 39 which facilitates the receipt and application of the substance to be applied to the hair of a person. In addition, the base portions of opposed edges of the tines are notched or recessed as at 40 to further facilitate the passage of hair between the tines as the substance carried by the tines is applied to such strands. End section 33 includes a pair of arcuate tine portions 41, the end segments of which are provided with bulbous configurations, as at 42, and the base portion of the opposed edges of which is provided with a recess or notch as at 43.

The tool shown in FIG. 2 may be used in a manner similar to the use of tool 11. Such use, however, is facilitated by being able to comfortably grip the opposite sides of pad 15 with the thumb and forefinger of the user to manipulate the tool by first dipping the tines on an end thereof into the substance to be applied, and then guiding such substance laden tine portions through a section of the hair to which the substance is to be applied. When the tool is used to apply substances to a narrower area of hair, the opposite end of the tool may be used in applying the substance. With the use of either end of the tool, the bulbous end segments of the tine portions are guided along or adjacent the scalp of the person being treated, allowing the strands being treated to pass between and along the tines and receive the substance carried by the tines.

The configuration of either of the embodiments of the invention as described may be used to effectively apply a substance to a selected few or a large segment of strands of hair as desired. The simplicity and configuration of either of the embodiments of the invention permit the tool to be easily grasped, dipped into a substance to be applied and manipulated as the substance laden tine portions of the device are guided through a section of the hair being treated. Furthermore, because of the lightweight aspect of the tool, the tool may be easily moved and manipulated without any great effort of the user. The bulbous configurations of the end segments of the tine portions not only permit the ends of the tines to be guided along the scalp of the user but prevent any unintended contact with the scalp. The spacing between the tine portions of the tool permit the strands of hair being treated to pass freely between and along the strands to receive the substance being applied. The recessed trough of the opposed edges of the tine portions further function to prevent any of the strands passing between the tine portions from becoming snagged at such trough area of the tine portions.

The major and minimum amount of material required for such tools and their simplicity of design result in a product that may be readily produced at a comparatively low cost.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention, which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A tool for applying a liquid to the hair of a person comprising an elongated, thin and narrow member including an intermediate section which may be gripped and manipulated by a user, and at least one end section providing at least two, longitudinally projecting tine portions spaced sufficiently to permit the passage of a strand of hair as such tines laden with a liquid to be applied are passed through the hair of a person with end portions thereof disposed in proximity to the scalp of such person.
 2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein each of said tine portions is provided with an end segment having a bulbous configuration.
 3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the width of said end section is greater than the width of said intermediate section.
 4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the base of a pair of opposed edges of said tine portions is provided with a notch.
 5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool is formed of a plastic material.
 6. A tool according to claim 1 wherein at least one side of said intermediate section is provided with a finger engageable pad.
 7. A tool according to claim 6 wherein said pad has a surface configured to accommodate the contour of a thumb.
 8. A tool according to claim 6 wherein each of said tine portion is provided with an end segment having a bulbous configuration.
 9. A tool according to claim 6 wherein the width of said end sectopm is greater than the width of said intermediate section.
 10. A tool according to claim 6 wherein said tool is formed of a plastic material.
 11. A tool according to claim 1 wherein opposite sides of said intermediate section are provided with a pair of finger engaging pads.
 12. A tool according to claim 11 wherein one of said pads has a surface configured to accommodate the contour of a thumb and the other of said pads has a surface to accommodate the contour of a forefinger.
 13. A tool according to claim 11 wherein each of said tine portions is provided with an end segment having a bulbous configuration.
 14. A tool according to claim 1 wherein all surface portions thereof gradually merge together to provide a thin, slick object having a smooth surface easily guidable through a lock of hair to effectively apply said liquid.
 15. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate section has a knurled configuration.
 16. A tool according to claim 15 wherein at least one side of said intermediate section is provided with a finger engageable pad.
 17. A tool according to claim 16 wherein said pad has a surface configured to accommodate the contour of a thumb.
 18. A tool according to claim 15 wherein said tool is formed of a plastic material.
 19. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the surface of said intermediate section is spirally configured.
 20. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool is provided with three spaced tine portions at one end of said intermediate section, and two spaced tines at an opposite end of said intermediate section. 